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Abstract:

In an embodiment, an electronic apparatus is mounted with a card unit
including first and second devices driven with different driving
voltages. The electronic apparatus includes: first and second voltage
generating units, first and second control units. The first voltage
generating unit generates a first driving voltage for driving the first
device and a second driving voltage for driving the second device using
electric power from the battery. The second voltage generating unit
generates the first driving voltage and second driving voltage using
electric power transmitted from the external device. The first control
unit controls the first selection unit such that any one of the first
driving voltage generated by the first voltage generating unit and the
first driving voltage generated by the second voltage generating unit is
selected depending on the electric power supply capability of the
battery.

Claims:

1. An electronic apparatus where a card unit including first and second
devices driven with different driving voltages are mounted, the
electronic apparatus comprising: a radio communication unit configured to
perform radio communication with an external device and to receive
electric power from the external device; a battery; a first voltage
generating unit configured to generate a first driving voltage for
driving the first device and a second driving voltage for driving the
second device using electric power from the battery; a second voltage
generating unit configured to generate the first driving voltage and
second driving voltage using electric power from the external device; a
first selection unit configured to select any one of the first driving
voltage generated by the first voltage generating unit and the first
driving voltage generated by the second voltage generating unit; a second
selection unit configured to select any one of the second driving voltage
generated by the first voltage generating unit and the second driving
voltage generated by the second voltage generating unit; a first control
unit configured to control the first selection unit such that any one of
the first driving voltage generated by the first voltage generating unit
and the first driving voltage generated by the second voltage generating
unit is selected depending on the electric power supply capability of the
battery; and a second control unit configured to control the second
selection unit such that any one of the second driving voltage generated
by the first voltage generating unit and the second driving voltage
generated by second voltage generating unit is selected depending on the
electric power supply capability of the battery.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first control unit
controls the first selection unit such that the first driving voltage
generated by the first voltage generating unit is selected when the
electric power supply capability of the battery exceeds a first
threshold, and such that the first driving voltage generated by the
second voltage generating unit is selected when the electric power supply
capability of the battery is equal to or lower than the first threshold.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second control unit
controls the second selection unit such that the second driving voltage
generated by the first voltage generating unit is selected when the
electric power supply capability of the battery exceeds the second
threshold, and such that the second driving voltage generated by the
second voltage generating unit is selected when the electric power supply
capability of the battery is equal to or lower than the second threshold.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first device is an
authentication unit configured to perform authentication processing, and
the second device is a memory configured to store data.

5. An electronic apparatus where a unit including a device driven by a
predetermined driving voltage is mounted, the electronic apparatus
comprising: a radio communication unit configured to perform radio
communication with an external device and to receive electric power from
the external device; a battery; a first voltage generating unit
configured to generate the driving voltage using electric power from the
battery; a second power voltage generating unit configured to generate
the driving voltage using electric power from the external device; a
selection unit configured to select any one of the driving voltage
generated by the first power voltage generating unit and the driving
voltage generated by the second power voltage generating unit; and a
control unit configured to control the selection unit such that any one
of the driving voltage generated by the first voltage and the driving
voltage generated by the second voltage is selected depending on an
electric power supply capability of the battery.

Description:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority
from Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-153029, filed on Jul. 11, 2011;
the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

[0002] Embodiments described herein relate generally to an electronic
apparatus.

BACKGROUND

[0003] In the related art, there is known an electronic apparatus (such as
a mobile phone terminal) where a card unit (such as a SIM card) obtained
by installing various devices on a substrate can be mounted. Such an
electronic apparatus is driven by electric power from a battery. In
addition, the electric power from the battery is also supplied to the
card unit mounted on the electronic apparatus.

[0004] However, there is a problem in that it is difficult to drive the
devices installed in the card unit when an electric power supply
capability of the battery becomes lower than a predetermined value (for
example, when a remaining battery level is lower than a predetermined
value and the like).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005]FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration example
of a communication system according to an embodiment; and

[0006]FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating an operational example of the
communication system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0007] In an embodiment, an electronic apparatus is mounted with a card
unit including first and second devices driven with different driving
voltages. The electronic apparatus includes: a radio communication unit
configured to perform radio communication with an external device and to
receive electric power from the external device; a battery; a first
voltage generating unit configured to generate a first driving voltage
for driving the first device and a second driving voltage for driving the
second device using electric power from the battery; a second voltage
generating unit configured to generate the first and second driving
voltages using electric power from the external device; a first selection
unit configured to select any one of the first driving voltage generated
by the first voltage generating unit and the first driving voltage
generated by the second voltage generating unit; a second selection unit
configured to select any one of the second driving voltage generated by
the first voltage generating unit and the second driving voltage
generated by the second voltage generating unit; a first control unit
configured to control the first selection unit such that any one of the
first driving voltage generated by the first voltage generating unit and
the first driving voltage generated by the second voltage generating unit
is selected depending on the electric power supply capability of the
battery; and a second control unit configured to control the second
selection unit such that any one of the second driving voltage generated
by the first voltage generating unit and the second driving voltage
generated by second voltage generating unit is selected depending on the
electric power supply capability of the battery.

[0008] Hereinafter, an electronic apparatus according to an embodiment
will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration example
of a communication system 1 according to an embodiment. As illustrated in
FIG. 1, the communication system 1 includes an electronic apparatus 100
where a card unit 200 can be mounted and a server 300. For example, the
electronic apparatus 100 may include a portable terminal such as a smart
phone.

[0009] First, details of each unit included in the electronic apparatus
100 will be described. The electronic apparatus 100 includes a card
interface 101, a battery unit 102, a first voltage generating unit 103, a
first radio communication unit 104, a second voltage generating unit 105,
a first selection unit 106, a first control unit 107, a second selection
unit 108, a second control unit 109, and a card controller 110.

[0010] The card interface 101 is an interface device configured to connect
the electronic apparatus 100 and the card unit 200.

[0011] The first voltage generating unit 103 generates two types of
driving voltages (including first and second driving voltages V1 and V2)
for driving various devices mounted on the card unit 200 using the
electric power from the battery unit 102. Here, for example, a voltage
value of the first driving voltage V1 is assumed to be lower than a
voltage value of the second driving voltage V2, which however is not
limited thereto. For example, each voltage value of the first and the
second driving voltages V1 and V2 may be set arbitrarily. For example,
the first voltage generating unit 103 may include a regulator and the
like.

[0012] The first radio communication unit 104 performs radio communication
with the server 300 and to receive electric power from the server 300.
Although a detailed illustration is not provided, the first radio
communication unit 104 includes an electronic circuit, an antenna, and
the like configured to perform the radio communication. In addition,
electric power is transmitted from the server 300 to the first radio
communication unit 104. For example, according to the present embodiment,
the electric power is transmitted to the first radio communication unit
104 from the server 300 based on an electromagnetic induction technique.
More specifically, the first radio communication unit 104 includes a
coil, and the server 300 includes a coil supplied with an alternating
current. When the electronic apparatus 100 approaches the server 300, the
electric power (electric current) is generated in the coil of the first
radio communication unit 104 due to the electromagnetic induction. In
addition, according to the present embodiment, information (transmitted
data) is expressed using a part (about 10%, for example) of the
transmitted electric power value (in this case, the value of current),
and the electronic apparatus 100 can detect the data transmitted from the
server 300 by detecting the value of current generated in the coil of the
first radio communication unit 104.

[0013] The second voltage generating unit 105 generates the first and
second driving voltages V1 and V2 using the electric power transmitted to
the first radio communication unit 104 from the server 300. Similarly to
the first voltage generating unit 103, the second voltage generating unit
105 may include, for example, a regulator and the like.

[0014] The first selection unit 106 selects any one of the first driving
voltage V1 generated by the first voltage generating unit 103 and the
first driving voltage V1 generated by the second voltage generating unit
105 under control of the first control unit 107. The first selection unit
106 may include, for example, a switch, a relay, or the like.

[0015] The first control unit 107 controls the first selection unit 106
such that any one of the first driving voltage V1 generated by the first
voltage generating unit 103 and the first driving voltage V1 generated by
the second voltage generating unit 105 is selected depending on the
electric power supply capability of the battery unit 102. The first
driving voltage V1 selected by the first selection unit 106 is supplied
to the card unit 200 through the card interface 101. For example, when a
total amount of charges remaining in the battery unit 102 (hereinafter,
referred to as a "remaining battery level") exceeds a first threshold,
the first control unit 107 according to the present embodiment controls
the first selection unit 106 such that the first driving voltage V1
generated by the first voltage generating unit 103 is selected. In
addition, when the remaining battery level is lower than the first
threshold, the first control unit 107 controls the first selection unit
106 such that the first driving voltage V1 generated by the second
voltage generating unit 105 is selected. In addition, the first threshold
may be determined arbitrarily.

[0016] Under control of the second control unit 109, the second selection
unit 108 selects any one of the second driving voltage V2 generated by
the first voltage generating unit 103 and the second driving voltage V2
generated by the second voltage generating unit 105. For example, the
second selection unit 108 may include a switch, a relay, or the like.

[0017] The second control unit 109 controls the second selection unit 108
such that any one of the second driving voltage V2 generated by the first
voltage generating unit 103 and the second driving voltage V2 generated
by the second voltage generating unit 105 is selected depending on the
electric power supply capability of the battery unit 102. The second
driving voltage V2 selected by the second selection unit 108 is applied
to the card unit 200 through the card interface 101. For example, when
the remaining battery level exceeds a second threshold, the second
control unit 109 according to the present embodiment controls the second
selection unit 108 such that the second driving voltage V2 generated by
the first voltage generating unit 103 is selected. In addition, when the
remaining battery level is equal to or lower than the second threshold,
the second control unit 109 controls the second selection unit 108 such
that the second driving voltage V2 generated by the second voltage
generating unit 105 is selected. In addition, the second threshold may be
determined arbitrarily. The second threshold may be different from or
equal to the first threshold described above.

[0019] Next, each part included in the card unit 200 will be described in
detail. The card unit 200 is an apparatus provided with various devices
on the substrate. The card unit 200 includes an interface terminal 201, a
memory 202, a memory controller 203, an authentication unit 204, a second
radio communication unit 205, and a card device 206.

[0020] The interface terminal 201 can be electrically connected to the
card interface 101. Under control of the card controller 110, the card
device 206 controls the entire card unit 200.

[0021] The memory 202 stores the various kinds of data. For example, the
memory 202 may include a nonvolatile memory. According to the present
embodiment, the driving voltage for driving the memory 202 is the second
driving voltage V2, and the memory 202 corresponds to the "second
device." The memory controller 203 controls the memory 202 under control
of the card device 206. The memory controller 203 controls, for example,
reading data stored in the memory 202, or writing data on the memory 202.
According to the present embodiment, the voltage for driving the memory
controller 203 may be either the first or second driving voltage V1 or
V2.

[0022] The authentication unit 204 performs authentication processing with
the server 300 through the radio communication using the first radio
communication unit 104 of the electronic apparatus 100. For example, the
authentication unit 204 may include a secure element. The "authentication
processing" described above refers to processing for authenticating the
card unit 200. According to the present embodiment, for example, the card
unit 200 is authenticated by determining whether or not an identification
number assigned to the card unit 200 is equal to the identification
number registered in advance. The authentication unit 204 stores the
identification numbers and various application programs. The application
program may include, for example, a program for downloading predetermined
contents stored in the server 300 (such as music or documents). However,
the embodiment is not limited thereto, and any type of application
program may be employed. In addition, according to the present
embodiment, the voltage for driving the authentication unit 204 is the
first driving voltage V1, and the authentication unit 204 corresponds to
the "first device."

[0023] The second radio communication unit 205 performs radio
communication with the server 300. Although a detailed illustration is
not provided, the second radio communication unit 205 includes an
antenna, an electronic circuit, and the like configured to perform the
radio communication. According to the present embodiment, since the radio
communication of the second radio communication unit 205 is used to
download contents from the server 300, a data transmission rate of the
second radio communication unit 205 is set to a value greater than that
of the first radio communication unit 104 in the electronic apparatus 100
side. In addition, according to the present embodiment, the voltage for
driving the second radio communication unit 205 may be either the first
or second driving voltage V1 or V2.

[0024] Next, an operational example of the communication system 1
according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to
FIG. 2. Here, assume a scene where a service for downloading
predetermined contents from the server 300 after the authentication
processing is provided. First, a user who receives a service causes the
electronic apparatus 100 in hand to approach the server 300. As a result,
the electric power is generated in the coil of the first radio
communication unit 104, and the first and second control units 107 and
109 are activated by receiving the electric power (step S1). More
specifically, using the electric power generated in the coil, the second
voltage generating unit 105 generates the first and second driving
voltages V1 and V2, and any one of the first and second driving voltages
V1 and V2 is supplied to the first and second control units 107 and 109
so as to activate the first and second control units 107 and 109.
However, the embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, when the
electric power is generated in the coil of the first radio communication
unit 104, the electric power may start to be supplied from the battery
unit 102 to the first and second control units 107 and 109.

[0025] Then, the first control unit 107 determines whether or not the
remaining battery level exceeds the first threshold (step S2). When it is
determined that the remaining battery level exceeds the first threshold
(YES in step S2), the first control unit 107 controls the first selection
unit 106 such that the first driving voltage V1 generated by the first
voltage generating unit 103 is selected (step S3). When it is determined
that the remaining battery level is equal to or smaller than the first
threshold (NO in step S2), the first control unit 107 controls the first
selection unit 106 such that the first driving voltage V1 generated by
the second voltage generating unit 105 is selected (step S4). The first
driving voltage V1 selected by the first selection unit 106 is supplied
to the authentication unit 204 through the card interface 101, and the
authentication unit 204 is activated (step S5).

[0026] Then, when the first radio communication unit 104 receives an
application activation request for requesting activation of an
application corresponding to the service provided from the server 300
(YES in step S6), the application requested by the server 300 is executed
out of a plurality of types of applications stored in the authentication
unit 204. After activation of the application, the authentication
processing is executed (step S7). More specifically, first, the
authentication unit 204 transmits the aforementioned identification
number to the server 300 through the first radio communication unit 104,
for example, after encryption. The server 300 decrypts the identification
number transmitted from the electronic apparatus 100, and authentication
is performed by determining whether or not the identification number
obtained through decryption matches the identification number registered
in advance. This is just an example, and various techniques known in the
art may be employed for the authentication processing performed between
the authentication unit 204 and the server 300.

[0027] Then, when the first radio communication unit 104 receives the
second radio communication unit activation request for requesting
activation of the second radio communication unit 205 from the server 300
(YES in step S8), the instruction signal for instructing activation of
the second radio communication unit 205 is transmitted to the card
controller 110 from the host controller (not illustrated) connected to
the first radio communication unit 104. The card controller 110 transmits
the instruction signal to the second control unit 109, and the second
control unit 109 receiving the instruction signal determines whether or
not the remaining battery level exceeds the second threshold (step S9).
Meanwhile, when the second radio communication unit activation request is
not received within a predetermined period (YES in step S10), the process
is terminated.

[0028] In step S9 described above, when it is determined that the
remaining battery level exceeds the second threshold (YES in step S9),
the second control unit 109 controls the second selection unit 108 such
that the second driving voltage V2 generated by the first voltage
generating unit 103 is selected (step S11). In addition, in step S9
described above, when it is determined that the remaining battery level
is equal to or lower than the second threshold (NO in step S9), the
second control unit 109 controls the second selection unit 108 such that
the second driving voltage V2 generated by the second voltage generating
unit 105 is selected (step S12). The second driving voltage V2 selected
by the second selection unit 108 is supplied to the second radio
communication unit 205 through the card interface 101 and activates the
second radio communication unit 205 (step S13).

[0029] Then, the card controller 110 initiates radio communication with
the server 300 and controls the second radio communication unit 205 such
that a predetermined content is downloaded (step S14). In addition, under
control of the card device 206, the memory controller 203 writes the
downloaded content to the memory 202 (step S15). As a result, the service
is terminated.

[0030] As described above, according to the present embodiment, various
devices mounted on the card unit 200 (such as the memory 202 and the
authentication unit 204) are driven using two types of driving voltages
(including first and second driving voltages V1 and V2). In addition,
when the electronic apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment
supplies the first driving voltage V1 to the card unit 200, the first
driving voltage V1 generated using the electric power transmitted to the
first radio communication unit 104 from the server 300 is supplied to the
card unit 200 when the remaining battery level is equal to or lower than
the first threshold. In addition, when the electronic apparatus 100
supplies the second driving voltage V2 to the card unit 200, the second
driving voltage V2 generated using the electric power transmitted to the
first radio communication unit 104 from the server 300 is supplied to the
card unit 200 when the remaining battery level is equal to or lower than
the second threshold. That is, according to the present embodiment, even
when the electric power supply capability of the battery unit 102 is
insufficient, it is possible to drive various devices mounted on the card
unit 200 using the electric power transmitted to the first radio
communication unit 104 from the server 300.

[0031] For example, any type of the card unit 200 may be employed, such as
an SD card, a micro SD card, a SIM card, and an IC card.

[0032] Although the electric power is transmitted to the first radio
communication unit 104 from the server 300 based on an electric induction
technique according to the embodiments described above, the embodiment is
not limited thereto. Any technique may be employed to wirelessly transmit
the electric power from the server 300 to the first radio communication
unit 104. For example, the electric power may be transmitted to the first
radio communication unit 104 from the server 300 in an electric wave
form. In this case, any type of antenna of the first radio communication
unit 104 may be employed. For example, the first radio communication unit
104 may include a near field communication (NFC) antenna or a 3G antenna.

[0033] In addition, although the electronic apparatus 100 generates two
types of driving voltages and supplies them to the card unit 200
according to the embodiment described above, any number or any type of
driving voltages generated by the electronic apparatus 100 may be
employed. For example, the electronic apparatus 100 may generate three or
more types of driving voltages and may supply them to the card unit 200.
Alternatively, the electronic apparatus 100 may generate a single type of
driving voltage and may supply it to the card unit 200. In short, the
electronic apparatus according to the embodiment is an electronic
apparatus where a unit including a device (for example, the card unit
200) driven using a predetermined driving voltage can be mounted. When
the power supply capability of a battery (the battery unit 102) is
insufficient, the driving voltage generated using the electric power
transmitted to the first radio communication from an external device (for
example, the server 300) may be supplied to the mounted units.

[0034] While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments
have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit
the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described
herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various
omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments
described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the
inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to
cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and
spirit of the inventions.